The Small Change Program has grown from its infancy to be shared by clubs on four continents. Below is a report that was prepared just a couple of years after it was started at Windsor-Roseland. We hope this is useful for your Rotary Club.

When and how was this program initiated?
Does it address a significant problem or need in the local community?

The Small Change program was initiated at the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland in September of 1999 and is continuing to thrive. This program was brought forward by our community service committee to supplement the larger projects and events that our club undertakes each year. We share this with anyone interested in making a big difference one small change at a time.

Each week one Rotarian is responsible for completing one “act of kindness” or “Small Change”. This can be as simple as paying someone’s bus fare, sending flowers to someone to brighten up their day, or providing mittens to a school where we know there are children in need. While a list of suggestions was developed, Rotarians are encouraged to be creative and come up with their own ideas. In fact, many of the ideas which have surfaced don’t cost anything.

It is a simple procedure. Each week a brief description of small change is relayed for the benefit of guests and visiting Rotarians. As the story of the week is being shared a blue felt bag is passed around to collect nickels, dimes, dollars, etc. While this process takes only a few minutes, it is truly inspiring and is a wonderful addition to our meetings. A brief description of the small change act is then added to our weekly newsletter.

Is it commensurate with the size of the club and the resources available?

Small Change is a great way to “Enjoy Rotary!” at every meeting. It includes and involves Rotarians and their families, guests and community members who attend our meetings. SMALL CHANGE is a way that we can make a difference each week. Everyone brings their story back to our meetings to share and remind us, in a tangible way, why we are so proud to be Rotarians and that we truly do make a difference.

Does it involve most or all of the club members in personal rather than merely monetary service and is it capable of emulation by other Rotary clubs?

Small Change doesn’t rely on the generosity of one or a few members. It has become a creative and personal challenge for all of our members. Each week members are motivated to be even more inventive and creative with their turn at Small Change. This inspires the pursuit of excellence among our club members. Several initiatives drew in Rotary friends and Rotary children who have taken it upon themselves to participate and relay it back to our club.

We are expanding the traditional definition of teamwork with Small Change. While it is an individual Rotarian’s effort each week, collectively the whole club has rallied together as a team to ensure the success of this project.

In January 2000, the District 6400 Group Study Exchange took Small Change international when they took Small Change to India. They took their small change and bought a desk for a classroom while visiting a group of school children. It has now been formally launched in Brazil and presentations have been made and packages sent to other clubs in the Caribbean, Michigan, Florida, as well as other clubs in our own district. It has also been launched in the classrooms of some Rotarians children.

Does it enhance the image of Rotary in the community?

Attached is a log of small change entries. Not only does it warm your heart but it also demonstrates the wide-ranging impact this program has had on our club and our community. We also view this as a membership and retention tool – keeping Rotarians excited about the work of Rotary each week.

What was the impact of this project upon its beneficiaries?

There is no way of telling how far and wide our acts of kindness have reached. Everyone benefits! We as Rotarians feel good and the recipients have been positively impacted. We liken this project to the ripples in a pool of water. We are throwing the first stone but the kindness that ripples outward is immeasurable. We as Rotarians each week celebrate the wonderful difference that we’ve made one “small” step at a time.

At District 6400’s Annual Conference in Toronto in 2000, the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland received the Hugh Archer Award for project excellence. District 6400 and the home club of the late Hugh Archer, PPRI, Dearborn, established this award to honor Hugh during his year (1989-90) as Rotary International President. The award is given to the club in District 6400 that initiates a new project that encourages teamwork among club members and best exemplifies Hugh’s theme for his year as R.I. President “Enjoy Rotary!”

Our First Year Log:

Week - Rotarian - Amount Collected

1. Michelle Prince 0.00
Small Change - Our first week! We heard the compelling and touching story of how Michelle Prince stopped to perform CPR on an elderly woman in need on Ouellette Avenue. Michelle’s brave actions helped the woman to survive until medical help arrived. You make us proud Michelle!

2. Jennifer Jones $4.25
Small Change - My inspiration came the way of a parking ticket I received last week. I in turn took the small change we collected and topped up a few downtown meters that had expired. I also took a suggestion from the oh-so-handy idea list and collected up clothing from my closet that I hadn’t recently worn. I plan to donate it to an organization that supports women who may not be able to afford business clothing but need it for employment.

3. Emil Houtteman $14.20 ($9.25 carried over)
Small Change - Emil tells us a young student’s eyes lit up when he pledged $5.00 towards a school uniform. Also, Thanksgiving was more special for those at the Downtown Mission where Emil delivered a basket of food. Thanks Emil!

4. Liz Bezaire $18.00 (total carried over)
Small Change - Liz was doing some fall cleaning on her closets when she came across a number of books that she had previously read. Liz took those books and donated them to the Public Library. Way to go Liz!

5. Kim Spirou $62.10 (total spent)
Small Change - Kim didn’t have to go far into the Spirou family closet to find a number of rather stylish coats for the Coats for Kids Program. Thanks to this family project many (25) people will be a lot warmer this winter! With the small change that was collected - Kim contacted her sister who works at a local nursing home and gathered the names of five individuals who don’t receive visitors. With the help of a local florist - five bouquets were delivered with the message “To brighten your day”. Thanks Kim!

6. Jim Fair $49.48 ($35.48 carried over)
Small Change - Jim Fair wore his small change hat all week long. First, when approached by a downtown vagrant asking for spare change...Jim realized he had some small change. Later when he arrived home he took out his mulcher and secretly took care of the leaves for a neighbour. Realizing that Remembrance Day was quickly approaching Jim bought poppies for his office. And last but not least while out with an elderly friend in the county...Jim sprung for ice cream. All that small change and he only spent $14.00. Good job Jim!

7. Beth Prince $69.10 (23.15 carried over)
Small Change - In honour of Remembrance Day, Beth Ann Prince-Wilcox anonymously donated a wreath to the Veteran Affairs office in Windsor to thank local veterans for their efforts during war time. This small change was $45.95. The balance has been carried over to next week for Operation Christmas Child. Good job Beth!

8. Nov. 16 Sean Goodall $40.09 ($11.59 carried over)
Small Change - A big pat on the back for Sean and all of the Rotarians who contributed to Operation Christmas Child – the shoebox campaign for children in desperate situations around the world. We collected over 42 boxes! Way to go! Sean also told us of the large balloons that he donated anonymously to a local pediatric unit to brighten up the area for small children who are in hospital. And finally, Sean paid the fare for the car behind him while travelling through the tunnel this week. Way to go Sean and the whole Windsor Roseland gang!

9. Nov 23 Richard Woodall $68.11
Small Change - While on their regular meals-on-wheels run this week...Richard and Earline added a little sunshine to each delivery with a yellow carnation. Richard also sent flowers to the Downtown Mission and one lucky fella will have their locks chopped for free this week. Richard instructed a local barber to pay the fee for someone who either looked like they could use a little help or was just having a down day! Good job Richard!

January Update - Richard informs us that when the barber tried to pay for the haircut the gentleman was so touched he said to pass the good gesture along! Yeah!

10. Nov 30 Gord Orr $62.34 (total spent)
Small Change - Gord made an anonymous donation of our “small change” to the Downtown Mission’s annual Polar Bear Dip Fund Raiser. It appears that Gord found it preferable to donate cold cash rather than a warm body!

Dec. 7 Field trip to the Rotary Club of Chicago

11. Dec 14 Kim Spirou $20.00 (total spent)
Small Change - Kim used the $20-dollars in the small change fund to purchase scarves, hats and mittens for the children who need them at Marlborough School. The principal at the school has indicated that there are a number of children who do not have appropriate winter accessories in the school and the donations were very much appreciated!

Christmas Break

12. Dec 24 Sheila Mosley
Small Change - A friend who Sheila told about our small change program gave her a number of gift packages for use in the program. Sheila delivered the gift boxes to the House of Sophrosyne on Christmas Eve. The staff member who received them was very pleased to accept them on behalf of the clients.

13. Jan 4 Re-cap of Small Change

14. Jan 11 Ted Lovell $26.50
Small Change - Ted took the $26.50 and bought art supplies and delivered them to a local elementary school for use in one of their kindergarten art programs that have been impacted by cutbacks. Ted tells us he had a ball at the dollar store! Thanks Ted for such a unique use of our small change.

15. Jan18 Beth Craig $132.61 ($82.74 carried over)
Small Change - Last week Beth Craig told us about her small change while at the A&P on Goyeau. Beth was picking up some groceries for her daughter (home with the flu) when she took fifty dollars and told the check out woman to apply it to the purchases of the people next in line. She happened to notice a few shoppers behind her and reported that it looked like it probably covered about the next ten people! Good job Beth!

16. Jan 25 Greg Wright $82.74 (28.74 carried over)
Small Change - Inspired by a recent Coke commercial where a young hockey player thanks his mother with cases of coke....Greg bought a round of “pops” for four young hockey teams at a local arena last week. I’m sure they appreciated the gesture..and I’m sure the sugar boost helped them out! Good job Greg!

17. Feb 1 Lou Ann Pope $52.37 (6.49 carried over)
Small Change - Last week Lou Ann took our small change and treated two couples in the Senior Citizen apartment building next to her office to a special Bouquet of Cookies. The cookies are put on “stems” and arranged like a floral bouquet. They were really appreciated particularly because, as it happened, the one lady was recovering from very recent surgery. Thanks Lou Ann!

18. Feb 8 Chris Uszynski $55.00
Small Change - Inspired by the announcement of their own upcoming “bundle of joy”... Chris donated this week’s small change to the Guardian Angels. This group of retired women knits booties and bonnets for newborns in the hospital! The proud and prepared dad-to-be even had ultrasound pictures to share! Congratulation Chris and Deborah!!

February update on our first small change - Michelle Prince shared a letter from Mayor Michael Hurst that commended her for her “heroic” actions for her brave attempt to save an elderly woman with CPR. Michelle has also received a special commendation from the Fire Dept.

19. Feb 15 Jean Wallis $35.00
Small Change - Jean Wallis had fun playing cupid this week in honour of Valentines Day! Jean sent Valentine bouquets to three different residents at Huron Lodge. She tells us that one of her former students now works at the facility and assured her the flowers would be delivered to deserving individuals! Thanks Jean!

20. Feb 22 Marie Merschback $30.00
Small Change - In these busy times many of us “choose” to skip breakfast while running out the door to work. This week Marie reminded us how important it is for little minds to start the day with a good breakfast. Marie donated $30 dollars of small change to the Begley Breakfast program. The teacher in charge told her every little bit helps and the donation was much appreciated! Bon Appetit Marie!

21. Feb 28 Brian Hill $35.00
Small Change - Small Change has “gone to the dogs” this week! Actually, Brian Hill put our thirty-five dollars in small change towards helping the TLC pet program. This program supports stray or injured animals by paying for medical care and food. Brian was told that a local pet store supplies broken bags of food, however, they have $50,000 dollars in outstanding veterinary bills. Our small change paid off one of those bills. Pet lovers everywhere say thank you Brian!

22. Mar 16 Jelena Sarapa $20.00
Small Change - After seeing another article on the rising price of gasoline, Jelena decided to help out a fellow driver! Jelena went to a 7-eleven gas bar , gave the clerk $20.00 and told her to use it to pay for the gas of the next person who comes in. The next person just happened to be an older gentleman who drives a cab for a living. Needless to say, the man was thrilled and decided it must be his lucky day and bought a lottery ticket. Great job Jelena!

23. March 23 Giselle Sullens $35.21
Small Change - This week Giselle Sullens targeted a special couple with Small Change. While caring for her terminally ill husband, this local woman was attacked in her home by a neighbour. They have two children. Giselle had a Big Brother who specializes in gift baskets anonymously send them a fruit basket with special items in it for their children. She says he went over and above when she explained Small Change! Thanks Giselle.

24. March 28 Jennifer Jones
Small Change - Jennifer Jones reported that our Small Change Program had been submitted for consideration for the Hugh Archer project of Excellence Award, which will be presented at the Conference in Toronto in May.
This week’s supply of Small Change will go to Brazil with Jennifer and Nick. We will look forward to another “International” Small Change Report when they return.

25. April 4 Beth Craig $17.00
Small change - Dinner is on Beth this week. Beth had been feeling under the weather for a couple of weeks and now that she was feeling better decided to treat herself and her girls to a pizza for dinner. As she was paying for the pizza, she noticed the bill came to $17.00 - the exact amount of small change for that week. She took this as a sign that the next pizza would be courtesy of small change and paid for the pizza of the people behind her. Good job Beth!

26. April 11 Kim Spirou $35.46
Small change - This week is World Wildlife Week! Kim celebrated by donating $35.46 to the World Wildlife Federation. The donation was made through Central School who is raising money to help keep polar bears off the endangered species list by adopting two polar bears of their very own. Good Luck Central School and Great idea Kim!

27. April 18 Betty Maddocks
Small Change - Betty Maddocks reported that she had made a change in her “Small Change” plans after Lloyd Morgan had mentioned that our Honourary Member, Agnes had been in poor health and might appreciate having some contact with fellow Rotarians from our club. Betty decided to make contact with Agnes and had a nice “visit” with her on the phone. She then used our small change to send a “floral surprise” to Agnes on that Tuesday at noon. Thanks Betty for thinking of Agnes.

28. April 25 Giselle Sullens
Small Change - Giselle Sullens found a unique way to spend our “Small Change”. She began by putting more than a few miles on our money by driving it around in her car for almost a whole week! On the Monday preceding the meeting it happened upon a woman on the campus of St. Clair College who was raising money for a child with a special need. The child was undergoing treatment for cancer and needed a wig, and this woman was not only raising money to provide the child with a suitable hairpiece she was also cutting her own very long hair and donating it. Giselle’s decision was made! Another job, well done.

29. May 2 Elaine Snaden $25.00
Small Change - Elaine used this week’s small change to help the Hiatus House. Many times a woman will come to the Hiatus House in such a rush and under such poor circumstances that she does not have time to gather the bare necessities for her and her children’s stay. The $25 in small change went towards purchasing a “bare necessities package” to help a woman in that type of situation feel more comfortable. What a thoughtful idea! Thanks Elaine

30. May 9 Jennifer Jones $34.00
Small Change -Yikes! It was Monday afternoon when Jennifer realized that she had forgotten to assign the small change to someone for the week. Being the resourceful woman that she is, she enlisted the help of Kim and together they went back to the Small Change Idea List. They decided to donate the $34 to a local pharmacist, who in turn would use the money to pay for the co-payments of people who looked like they could use the extra help or just needed some cheering up. Great idea Girls! Thanks!

31. May 16 Jean Wallis $27.61
Small Change - Jean Wallis donated the small change to David Maxwell Elementary to support their Backpacks for Literacy Program. This provides backpacks for students in grades K-2 with appropriate reading material and activities for each book. When students are finished reading, they return the backpack and select another. Our $27.61 will be used to expand the program into Grade 3.

32. May 23 Brian Hill
Small Change - Brian Hill used this week’s small change to help some less fortunate hockey players at the National tournament in Toronto. We paid for the meal at the banquet for one of the attendants and bought drinks for some of the players. The tournament consisted of 6 very competitive players from around the United States and Canada. Teams came from as far as Victoria, British Colombia. This tournament was the first time a team from Victoria and the one from Michigan competed. The Michigan team included Chris, Brian’s son, who really enjoyed taking part in this exciting program. Congratulations go out to Chris for participating and Brian for thinking of another unique way to make good use of our “Small Change”!

33. May 30 Jim Duchene
Small Change - Jim Duchene made good use of our small change this week through his contact with the Windsor Police V.I.P program, Jim made arrangements to donate our small change to ten elementary school breakfast programs. Thanks Jim!

34. June 6 Mo Thomson $29.31
Small Change - The residents of Richmond Terrace, in Amherstburg were treated to a small change in their breakfast routine recently. Mo Thomson, with the help of Stewart’s Flowers, and his wife, who attached the attractive bows, parlayed our $29.31 dollars into 76 pink carnation corsages/boutonnieres for the residents. He sure can stretch the dollar, maximize the resources, and delegate responsibility. No wonder Air Ontario wanted him! Another creative and thoughtful use of our Small Change! Thanks Mo!

35. June 13 Emil Houtteman $16.00
Small Change - Emil proved that a little small change really does go a long way! On Saturday Emil went to get his car washed at a charity car wash benefiting the Downtown Mission. With the help of Roseland Rotary and the small change program 3 lucky drivers were treated to a car wash. Emil spread a little more good cheer on Sunday when he paid the admission to Art in the Park for a young family of four who were in line behind him.
Sounds like you had a busy weekend Emil, great job!

36. June 20 Donna Milito $ 35.00
Small Change - One of Donna’s favorite summertime memories growing up was getting a group of friends together and having one of the neighborhood moms treat them to a matinee. Recently, while at Silver City Movie Theater she saw a large group of kids and a mom doing the same thing. Realizing how much it would cost the woman to pay for all the children, Donna instructed the ticket seller to use the $35 in small change to treat 7 of the children in the group. I’m sure the kids and especially the mom really appreciated the gesture. Thanks Donna!

37. July 4 Charles Frank $55.00
Small Change - While downtown, Charles came across a young man at the bus station who indicated that he needed $7 for a bus trip home to Toronto. Charles gladly obliged and handed over some small change to the happy and surprised young man. Also, Charles learned of a young mother who has a terminal brain tumor. Charles used the remainder of the small change to brighten her day by sending a bouquet of flowers.

38. July 11 Lloyd Morgan $69.95
Small Change - When Lloyd was growing up, summertime meant camptime! Knowing he had so many wonderful memories and experiences at camp, Lloyd contacted The Kiwanis Club and made arrangements for donating this week’s small change in order to help a young boy or young girl go to camp this summer. What a thoughtful idea Lloyd! Thanks!

39. July 18 Ray Baker $38.10
Small Change - Last week the Windsor Star covered a story how thieves had stolen 6 hot water heaters and furnaces from the Habitat for Humanity building site. The homes were nearing the stage where hundreds of volunteer’s come together to complete the ten homes in one amazing week. Ray Baker used the $38.10 collected in small change towards purchasing a $50.00 money order to anonymously donate to this worthwhile project. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Roseland Rotary and so many others in the city, the project was able to move ahead and construction is in full swing! Thanks for the great idea Ray!

40. July 25 Sherri Donohoo $33.00
Small Change - In the middle of a busy work day, Sherri found time to help others. Last week while at the Children’s Aid Society on business, Sherri saw some things that were very unsettling to her. Realizing how many families and children in the city could use help, Sherri was motivated to use the $33.00 collected in small change and make a donation to help one of those families in need. Great job Sherri!

41. August 8 Erin McKenzie $32.00
Small Change - Erin put our small change to work this week by having the staff at the Tim Horton’s on Ottawa Street take our Small Change out of a bowl on the counter to pay for the coffee of their customers. Erin explained to the manager what she had in mind and then sat back and watched from behind her newspaper. She was really impressed with the fun the staff was having. The manager told Erin from where she was sitting she was missing the surprised and pleased looks on the customers’ faces. Erin feels that at least 36 people experienced a positive small change in their morning routine. Thanks Erin!

42. August 15 Marsha Davidson $19.95
Small Change - Marsha Davidson took our small change and purchased crayons, markers, colouring books etc. and took them to the Hiatus House, the shelter for battered women and their children in Windsor. She really enjoyed the small mission. In addition she took her fifteen-year-old daughter with her so she could share in this experience. Thanks Marsha, for sharing our small change with Hiatus House program, and the work of Rotary with your daughter.

43. August 22 Bob Brown $
Small Change - Bob Brown put our small change to good use this week. He was made aware of a terminally ill young woman, who is a single parent, with young children. Bob made arrangements for our small change to be given to this young mother which he hoped in some small way would let her know someone cared. Thanks Bob, for a very caring and sensitive use of our small change.

44. August 29 Brian Davidson $30.00
Small Change - In response to the story about the young lady Sis He, the 17 year old girl who tragically died in a car accident in Windsor on Thursday, Brian arranged for a floral tribute to be sent to the He family home. Sisi died while innocently walking home along the sidewalk after spending some time shopping with a friend. She is survived by her Father, Mother, and Brother. The card on the flowers read simply: “Deepest sympathy , with love, from Caring Friends.” Brian asked that the arrangement be composed of primarily white flowers, as this is traditionally the Buddhist colour of grief and mourning, but also of hope.

45. September 19 Julie Dragich $20.00
Small Change - Julie is using this week’s small change to help a family who is going through some difficult times. Julie knows of a family that the husband was in a serious car accident, which left him blind. The family is having great difficulty coping both mentally and financially. Julie has decided to anonymously put fifty dollars in a card and leave it in their mailbox for Thanksgiving. What a thoughtful idea! Thanks Julie!

46. October 10 Don Harris/ Eddie Francis/ Richard Woodall
Small Change- Rotarians have been busy over the past few weeks spending some small change and making people happy. Don Harris sent some flowers to a woman in a nursing home who called his office by accident. The two ended up chatting and he said she sounded like she could use a little cheering up. Eddie Francis brought some wrestling action figures to a young boy he knows who was sexually assaulted and spending time in the hospital. The nurses said the gifts made his day. Richard Woodall took small change on the road and spent it out west. He spent his money paying for parking at the aquarium at Stanley Park, donating toonies to an empty collection container for the Arthritis Society at a restaurant in Saskatchewan and finally making a donation to the speaker at the Abbotsford Rotary Club in B.C. The speaker was working with a group who is building a children’s village. Richard said the woman was “dumbfounded and thrilled”. Great work Guys!

47. October 17 Eddie Francis
Small Change - Eddie Francis strikes again! As we know, last week Eddie brought some wrestling action figures to a young boy he knows who was in the hospital. After seeing how grateful and how much joy that gift brought, Eddie wanted to do more. He made a call to the show promoter of the WWF and made arrangements to get nine autographed pictures of various wrestling stars, including an autographed photo of the young boys’ favourite wrestler. On Monday night, the WWF show promoter personally delivered the photos to the lucky little boy. Thank you Eddie for a very caring (and free) gesture.

48. October 24 Bill Baker
Small Change – After deliberating on what to do with this week’s small change, Bill Baker decided to head to the gas station. Bill took the forty dollars collected and stood next to the self service and watched for small change “recipients”! Bill planned to hand out five dollars at a time. He reports that those who benefited were surprised, thrilled and touched. There were even those who refused the money…but said it made their day! “Pay at the Pumps” paid off…way to go Bill!!

49. October 30 Brian Hill
Small Change - Brian Hill donated $41 in small change to help out a program started at W.F Herman High School. Brian learned of two people hired to be hall monitors who noticed that a lot of the kids were coming to school without having breakfast and with no lunch. They decided to put a collection box in the staff room to collect small change so they can make breakfasts and lunches for some of these students. Brian said that they are also in need of sandwich bags, peanut butter and jam, and juice in tetra boxes. If you can help out with any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated. Good Work Brian!

50. November 7 – Kim Spirou
Small Change - Thanks to Kim Spirou’s use of Small Change, a woman in that age-old dilemma of not having enough money for the parking meter, was able to get on her way with a “loonie” from our small change. The rest of the money was donated to the “Pennies for a purpose”, an AM 800 CLKW Project that provides gifts for children at the holidays. Good job Kim!

51. November 14 – December 12th Pooled Funds for Christmas

52. December 19th Erin McKenzie
Small Change - For the past few weeks, our collections for small change have been pooled in an effort to make for a “big change” on Christmas Day. We all agreed to sponsor a family through Children’s Aid by providing them with gifts for Christmas morning. Our family is a 7-year old girl, an 11 year old boy and Mom. The family’s Social Worker provided me with their wish list which included the following items for the children: Barbie Shoes, anything with Winnie the Pooh on it, Harry Potter books and, of course, a skateboard. Jennifer, Kim and I met at Walmart and we split up the list, Jennifer shopped for Mom, Kim for the little girl and I for the little boy. Everyone will get a new set of bed linen that was on his or her list.
We managed to keep within the budget, spending $525.41. Jennifer and I met back at my house to wrap Mom’s gifts with pretty bows and labeled To Mom from Santa. The children’s gifts were left unwrapped and we donated wrapping paper to Mom to wrap them. (Children’s Aid requests this so that Parents can see what their children are receiving and as well, they can feel like they are contributing to their children’s Christmas) On Tuesday morning, I dropped everything off, 5 large green garbage bags full, at the Children Aid Society. We will remain anonymous to the family, but the Children’s Aid has asked me to thank everyone at the club for their generosity.

While I was there, over a dozen foster parents were arriving and picking up their packages for their foster children who had also been sponsored. It was a very touching scene to see three people at Children’s Aid smiling and so intent on keeping things organized and handing out the right gifts to everyone. There were hundreds of presents; boxes and bags labeled everywhere. It sure was looking like Christmas! Thank you everyone for helping our Mom and family.